Working on selling a house

[Merlot]

29. Anyone with the internet has access to what properties have sold in your area

redfin lets you find the area, timeframe, and property facts (number of bedrooms, footage, etci) for any area that you select or draw on the map. It's really a great tool to watch your investment. I look to see what homes with the same number of bedrooms and sq footage, etc have sold for in my area and most importantly what condition they are in by looking at interior photos. Takes the guesswork out of setting a price.

As for screening a buyer, legally a real estate agent must present any written offer, and any offer will come with either proof of funds or pre-approval lletter. You can make sure any offers you get are qualified in the same way.

The only benefit I see to having a real estate agent is the paperwork - inspections, back and forth on repairs, title, escrow, working with the bank, etc. If you find the buyer, you can either find an agent who will give you a break on their commission since they haven't done any leg work or find a real estate attorney. I don't recommend downloading forms from the internet, personally I would find that to risky. Spend a little extra money there and have some peace of mind. And you can also say what commission you're willing to pay to the buyers agent - if any. Possibly your buyer would be willing to pay their agents commission. Good Luck!